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GC-MS determination of amphetamine and methamphetamine in human urine for 12 hours following oral administration of dextro-methamphetamine: lack of evidence supporting the established forensic guidelines for methamphetamine confirmation.

Ten human volunteers, naive to amphetamines and divided into two groups of five each, were given an oral dose of 30 mg/70 kg D-methamphetamine in one of two different paradigms: the initial dose at 0930 h or the initial dose at 2130 h. One week later, each subject was crossed over with regard to time but given the same dose. A total of 214 urine specimens were collected either prior to dosing or at each micturition for a 12-h period post dose. Specimens were analyzed on a blind basis for methamphetamine and one of its metabolites, amphetamine, by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) using coinjection of extracted sample and pentafluoropropionic anhydride and selected-ion monitoring. Approximately 20% of the D-methamphetamine was recovered unchanged from the urine specimens, and 2% was recovered as amphetamine. The mean urine methamphetamine concentration in both groups reached a maximum within 4-6 h and declined thereafter. A residual amount of methamphetamine was found in some predose specimens at the crossover evaluation, reflecting that methamphetamine may be detected in urine for up to 7 days. The amphetamine concentration reached a plateau by 4-6 h. This observation coupled with the finding that all subjects excreted approximately 2% of the methamphetamine dose as amphetamine suggested a saturable process for its biotransformation. Concentrations of both methamphetamine and amphetamine tended to be higher, but were not significantly different, for night administration. Methamphetamine concentrations were consistently greater than the 500-ng/mL cutoff in most post-dosing specimens, whereas amphetamine concentrations generally did not achieve the 200-ng/mL cutoff specified by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) guidelines for GC-MS confirmation of methamphetamine. Some specimens containing methamphetamine had no amphetamine metabolite. The current guidelines would have resulted in 90.2% of the specimens containing methamphetamine being ruled negative by confirmation following either night or day administration, whereas one subject following the initial day administration and another following night crossover administration would have been judged positive at most time intervals. These findings suggest that the current SAMHSA guidelines select for individual metabolic variations and that GC-MS confirmation of methamphetamine will result in most occasional users being ruled negative following an oral dose of methamphetamine while some will be ruled positive.

Administration, Oral↗

Determination of enantiomeric metabolites of l-deprenyl, d-methamphetamine, and racemic methamphetamine in urine by capillary electrophoresis: comparison of deprenyl use and methamphetamine use.

The enantiomeric analysis of urine collected from rats administered l-deprenyl, d-methamphetamine (MA), or dl-MA and from healthy male volunteers who ingested l-deprenyl by capillary electrophoresis (CE) using carboxy methylated-beta-cyclodextrin (CMCD) as a chiral selector was investigated to compare the metabolic pattern of l-deprenyl with the metabolism of d- or dl-MA. Urine from illegal drug abusers was also analyzed for the comparison of therapeutic drug (l-deprenyl) use with illicit drug (d-MA) use. MA enantiomers (l-, d-), amphetamine (AM) enantiomers (l-, d-), l-deprenyl, and desmethylselegiline (DMS) enantiomers (l-, d-) were simultaneously separated and detected with clear resolution. L-deprenyl and its metabolites, l-MA, l-AM, and l-DMS, were detected in rat urine sample collected up to 24 h after oral administration of l-deprenyl (10 mg/kg), and the urinary l-AM/l-MA ratio was 2.45 +/- 0.55. This AM/MA ratio was significantly higher than the ratios obtained from rats administered with d-MA (5 mg/kg) and dl-MA (10 mg/kg). The d-AM/d-MA ratio was 0.98 +/- 0.25 for the d-MA treatment, and the d-AM/d-MA and l-AM/l-MA ratios were 0.72 +/- 0.24 and 0.71 +/- 0.21, respectively, for the dl-MA treatment. Analysis of human urine revealed that, unlike in rat urine, the MA content was much greater than the AM content, resulting in the AM/MA ratios being far lower in cases of healthy adult men treated with l-deprenyl (10 mg) and MA abusers. The AM/MA ratio from l-deprenyl users (0.33 +/- 0.03) was significantly higher than the ratio from MA abusers (0.20 +/- 0.12). Results indicate that although metabolic patterns of the drugs in rat and humans may be different, the AM/MA ratio from l-deprenyl use is significantly higher than the ratio from MA use in both rat and human urine. This ratio, however, cannot give conclusive proof of deprenyl or MA use in humans. The simultaneous chiral separation for all the metabolites of l-deprenyl and MA by CE analysis used in this study could provide rapid and simple discrimination between therapeutic drug use and illegal drug abuse.

Adult↗

The relationship between crystalline methamphetamine use and methamphetamine dependence.

BACKGROUND: The aim of the current study was to determine whether crystalline methamphetamine users are more dependent on methamphetamine than people who use other forms of the drug, and if so, whether this could be accounted for by their methamphetamine use history. METHOD: A structured face-to-face interview was used to assess drug use patterns and demographics among a convenience sample of 309 regular methamphetamine users from Sydney, Australia. Dependence on methamphetamine in the past year was measured using the Severity of Dependence Scale. The use of crystalline methamphetamine in the past year was confirmed using a photographic identification sheet. RESULTS: Participants who had used crystalline methamphetamine in the past year were significantly more likely to be dependent on methamphetamine than participants who took only other forms of methamphetamine during this time (61% versus 39%). Methamphetamine dependence was also associated with injecting or smoking methamphetamine (67% and 58%, respectively versus 30% for intranasal or oral use), using methamphetamine more than weekly (68% versus 34%), having used the drug for more than 5 years (61% versus 36%), and having used 'base' methamphetamine in the past year (59% versus 39%). Crystalline methamphetamine use remained significantly associated with methamphetamine dependence after adjusting for these patterns of methamphetamine use. CONCLUSIONS: Methamphetamine users who took crystalline methamphetamine in the past year were more likely to be dependent than methamphetamine users who had not taken the crystalline form of the drug during this time.

Adolescent↗

Methamphetamines pretreatment and the vulnerability of the striatum to methamphetamine neurotoxicity.

Pretreatment with intermittent low-dose administrations of stimulants increases mesostriatal dopamine transmission upon administration of a challenge dose. This occurs without evidence of a long-term dopamine or serotonin depletion. The purpose was to examine whether pretreatment with low doses of methamphetamine enhances dopamine and/or glutamate efflux and the subsequent depletion of dopamine and serotonin produced by neurotoxic challenge doses of methamphetamine. Microdialysis was used to measure simultaneously extracellular concentrations of dopamine and glutamate in the striatum and prefrontal cortex of awake rats. Basal extracellular concentrations of dopamine and glutamate were unaltered following pretreatment with methamphetamine. The increase in methamphetamine-induced striatal dopamine efflux was not significantly different between methamphetamine and saline pretreated groups. In contrast, after high challenge doses of methamphetamine, dopamine efflux in prefrontal cortex was enhanced to a greater extent in methamphetamine pretreated rats as compared to saline pretreated controls. Acute methamphetamine did not enhance glutamate efflux in prefrontal cortex after pretreatment with saline or methamphetamine. The increase in striatal glutamate efflux was blunted in rats pretreated with methamphetamine. When measured 4 days later, dopamine and serotonin content in striatum was depleted in all rats acutely challenged with methamphetamine. However, these depletions were attenuated in rats pretreated with methamphetamine. An acute methamphetamine challenge did not affect dopamine tissue content in the prefrontal cortex of any rats. Serotonin content in cortex was depleted in all groups following the methamphetamine challenge administration, but these depletions were diminished in methamphetamine-pretreated rats. These results are the first evidence that an intermittent pretreatment regimen with low doses of methamphetamine, followed by a 1 week withdrawal, reduces the vulnerability of striatal dopamine and serotonin terminals and cortical serotonin terminals to methamphetamine neurotoxicity. These findings provide evidence for the mechanism leading to methamphetamine neurotoxicity.

Animals↗

The effect of neurotoxic doses of methamphetamine on methamphetamine-conditioned place preference in rats.

RATIONALE: Methamphetamine has been shown to produce neurotoxicity demonstrated by depletions of dopamine and serotonin in the striatum and nucleus accumbens. OBJECTIVE: The current study examined the effects of neurotoxic doses of methamphetamine on the rewarding effect of subsequent administration of methamphetamine assessed by the conditioned place preference (CPP) procedure. METHODS: Male and female rats were treated with a neurotoxic regimen of methamphetamine (4 x 10 mg/kg, s.c., once every 2 h) or saline, and concentrations of dopamine, 3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid, serotonin, and 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid were measured 15 days later in the striatum, nucleus accumbens, and prefrontal cortex (PFC). In another experiment, male rats were given methamphetamine neurotoxic treatment or saline and were then conditioned 7 days later with methamphetamine (0.1, 0.3, or 1.0 mg/kg, s.c.) or saline using a four-trial CPP procedure. Locomotor activity was also measured during the conditioning sessions to investigate whether or not the neurotoxic methamphetamine treatment altered locomotor activity following a subsequent methamphetamine challenge. RESULTS: Males and females did not differ significantly in the amount of neurochemical depletion produced by methamphetamine in any brain region. Collapsed across sex, dopamine was significantly depleted in nucleus accumbens (25%) and striatum (51%); serotonin was significantly depleted in nucleus accumbens (35%), striatum (34%) and PFC (33%). The methamphetamine challenge dose dependently increased locomotor activity, but the increase was not affected by treatment with neurotoxic doses of methamphetamine. In contrast, treatment with neurotoxic doses of methamphetamine enhanced CPP at the intermediate conditioning dose (0.3 mg/kg). CONCLUSIONS: These results indicate that the rewarding effect of methamphetamine is enhanced by prior treatment with neurotoxic doses of methamphetamine, suggesting either a compensatory hyperfunctioning of spared dopamine neurons or a loss of inhibitory control from serotonergic input.

3,4-Dihydroxyphenylacetic Acid↗

Histamine h3 receptor antagonists potentiate methamphetamine self-administration and methamphetamine-induced accumbal dopamine release.

Methamphetamine administration increases brain levels of histamine and neuronal histamine attenuates several of methamphetamine's behavioral effects. The role of different subtypes of histamine receptors in this negative feedback, however, remains unclear. There is some evidence on possible involvement of histamine H3 receptors in these actions of methamphetamine. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effects of two histamine H3 receptor antagonists, clobenpropit and thioperamide, on rewarding and neurochemical effects of methamphetamine utilizing three in vivo methodologies, drug self-administration, drug discrimination, and microdialysis in Sprague-Dawley rats. In rats self-administering methamphetamine intravenously under a fixed-ratio schedule, presession treatment with thioperamide (1.0-3.0 mg/kg, subcutaneous, s.c.) or clobenpropit (1.0-3.0 mg/kg, s.c.) potentiated the reinforcing effects of methamphetamine, as indicated by a dose-dependent increase in responding for a low 0.03 mg/kg dose of methamphetamine, that by itself failed to maintain responding above saline substitution levels, and a decrease in responding for a higher 0.06 mg/kg training dose of methamphetamine. In contrast, neither thioperamide nor clobenpropit treatment increased responding during saline substitution. In other rats trained to discriminate intraperitoneal (i.p.) injection of 1.0 mg/kg methamphetamine from i.p. injection of saline, both thioperamide and clobenpropit (0.3-3.0 mg/kg, s.c.) dose dependently increased methamphetamine-appropriate responding when administered with a low 0.3 mg/kg i.p. dose of methamphetamine, which by itself produced predominantly saline-appropriate responding. However, thioperamide and clobenpropit produced only saline-appropriate responding when administered with saline vehicle. Finally, thioperamide and clobenpropit potentiated methamphetamine-induced elevations in extracellular dopamine levels in the shell of the nucleus accumbens, but did not increase brain dopamine levels when given alone. These findings point to histamine H3 receptors as a new and important receptor system modulating the reinforcing, subjective, and neurochemical actions of methamphetamine.

Adrenergic Uptake Inhibitors↗

Effects of murine-derived anti-methamphetamine monoclonal antibodies on (+)-methamphetamine self-administration in the rat.

Two murine-derived anti-methamphetamine monoclonal antibodies were studied as potential pharmacokinetic antagonists of (+)-methamphetamine self-administration by rats. Intravenous administration of a 1 g/kg dose of the lower affinity [antibody equilibrium dissociation constant (K(d)) = 250 nM] monoclonal antibody (mAb) designated mAb6H8, 1 day before the start of several daily 2-h self-administration sessions produced effects that depended on the dose of (+)-methamphetamine. mAb6H8 increased the rate of self-administration of a unit dose of 0.06 mg/kg (+)-methamphetamine, had little effect on the rate of self-administration of a unit dose of 0.03 mg/kg (+)methamphetamine, and lowered the rate of self-administration of a unit dose of 0.01 mg/kg (+)-methamphetamine to a level similar to that after saline substitution. mAb-induced changes in rates of self-administration occurred very early in self-administration sessions and lasted for 3 to 7 days. Intravenous administration of a 1 or a 0.6 g/kg dose of a higher affinity (K(d) = 11 nM) mAb designated mAb6H4, 24 h before the first of several self-administration sessions, produced very similar effects to the lower affinity mAb, despite the more than 20-fold greater affinity for (+)-methamphetamine. It is proposed that these anti-methamphetamine antibodies bind some of the self-administered (+)-methamphetamine before it can penetrate into brain, thereby reducing the amount of free drug available to function as a reinforcer. Although neither of these mAb medications are optimal antibodies for treating (+)-methamphetamine abuse, the experiments demonstrate that anti-(+)-methamphetamine monoclonal antibodies can attenuate the self-administration of the drug and suggest the potential of using monoclonal antibodies as pharmacokinetic antagonists of (+)-methamphetamine.

Adrenergic Agents↗

Inhibition of methamphetamine sensitization by post-methamphetamine treatment with SCH 23390 or haloperidol.

Methamphetamine (2 mg/kg SC) increased ambulation in mice for about 3 h, with a peak effect at around 40 min after the administration, and its repeated administration induced sensitization. Both SCH 23390 (0.03 mg/kg SC) and haloperidol (0.4 mg/kg SC), dopamine D1 and D2 receptor antagonists, respectively, completely inhibited not only the acute stimulant effect of methamphetamine but also its sensitization when repeated methamphetamine was repeatedly combined with either of these drugs. Moreover, treatment with SCH 23390 2-5 h or haloperidol 1-5 h after each methamphetamine administration significantly antagonized methamphetamine sensitization. The maximal inhibitory effect was observed in the schedules of 3-h post-methamphetamine treatment for both drugs. However, treatments with SCH 23390 or haloperidol at 0.5 h, 6 h and 24 h after methamphetamine had no such inhibitory effect. The mice treated with SCH 23390 or haloperidol after each saline administration (the control administration for methamphetamine) did not show significant change in the sensitivity to methamphetamine. These results suggest that methamphetamine has an effect on both dopamine D1 and D2 receptors for several hours even after cessation of its acute stimulant effect, and that such an effect is involved in the induction of sensitization to the stimulant effect of methamphetamine on ambulation in mice.

Animals↗

Effects of repeated treatment with methamphetamine plus scopolamine and methamphetamine on behavioral sensitization and conditioning.

This study compared repeated treatment with methamphetamine (4.0 mg/kg, i.p.) plus scopolamine (0.5 mg/kg, i.p.) and methamphetamine alone in behavioral sensitization and drug conditioning with respect to a reciprocal balance between the dopaminergic and cholinergic systems. Repeated methamphetamine plus scopolamine treatment induced a more progressive and enduring enhancement of stereotyped behavior than repeated methamphetamine treatment. Methamphetamine plus scopolamine-induced stereotyped behavior was reproduced by challenge injections of not only methamphetamine plus scopolamine and methamphetamine, but also, to a lesser extent, by scopolamine challenges. The methamphetamine plus scopolamine-sensitized rats were conditioned to a low-frequency tone (300 Hz, 100 dB) as conditioned stimulus associated with the drug state. They responded to pairings of the tone and placebo injections, but not to the tone alone or the placebo alone. The methamphetamine-sensitized rats failed to exhibit conditioning. These results suggest that methamphetamine plus scopolamine-induced pronounced behavioral sensitization may produce an enhanced conditioning. Exteroceptive conditioned stimulus-interoceptive unconditioned stimulus associations may provide an important source for drug conditioning. We concluded that behavioral sensitization may be mediated via a reciprocal balance between the dopaminergic and cholinergic systems, in favor of a dopaminergic dominance. Conditioning to the drug-associated tone may operate via a reciprocal balance between the dopaminergic and cholinergic systems.

Animals↗

Effects of topiramate on methamphetamine-induced changes in attentional and perceptual-motor skills of cognition in recently abstinent methamphetamine-dependent individuals.

Methamphetamine-dependent individuals often cite the need to maintain enhanced cognitive performance and attention as a reason for continuing or relapsing to drug-taking. Further, methamphetamine addicts might not comply with taking a potentially therapeutic medication if it had a profound effect on these cognitive processes. Topiramate, a sulfamate-substituted fructopyranose derivative, has been suggested as a putative therapeutic medication for treating methamphetamine dependence. Examination of topiramate's effects on cognitive performance and attention is a clinically and scientifically important component of understanding its potential therapeutic profile. In 10 male and female individuals who met DSM-IV criteria for methamphetamine dependence, we examined the effects of low (50 mg b.i.d.)- and high (100 mg b.i.d.)-dose topiramate - in both the presence and absence of low (15 mg)- and high (30 mg)-dose intravenous methamphetamine--on cognitive performance, attention, and concentration on the rapid visual information processing task and the digit symbol substitution test. Intravenous methamphetamine enhanced cognitive performance, attention, and concentration among recently withdrawn methamphetamine addicts--an effect that hitherto had not been well characterized. Topiramate's cognitive effects were mixed and rather paradoxical, with a tendency to improve attention and concentration both alone and in the presence of methamphetamine while worsening psychomotor retardation. No deleterious interaction occurred between topiramate and methamphetamine on any of these cognitive processes. While clinical studies with topiramate should prepare participants for possible psychomotor retardation, the cognitive effects profile observed would not likely present an important obstacle to compliance in motivated patients. Topiramate's complicated cognitive effects among methamphetamine addicts need more comprehensive examination.

Adult↗

Pharmacokinetic antagonism of (+)-methamphetamine discrimination by a low-affinity monoclonal anti-methamphetamine antibody.

Animals were trained to discriminate 5 or 10 mg/kg cocaine (rats), or 3 mg/kg (+)-amphetamine (pigeons) from saline, after which dose-response curves were determined for (+)-methamphetamine and other drugs before and after administration of a (+)-methamphetamine-specific monoclonal antibody (K(D) =250 nM). In rats trained to discriminate 10 mg/kg cocaine from saline, intravenous (+)-methamphetamine was about three times more potent as a discriminative stimulus than intraperitoneal (+)-methamphetamine. Also in these rats, intraperitoneal (+)-methamphetamine and (+)-amphetamine were about equipotent as discriminative stimuli, and were about three times more potent than intraperitoneal cocaine. In pigeons trained to discriminate 3 mg/kg intramuscular (i.m.) (+)-amphetamine from saline, (+)-methamphetamine and (+)-amphetamine were nearly equipotent, while cocaine was slightly less potent. In rats trained to discriminate 5 or 10 mg/kg cocaine from saline, intravenous administration of 1 g/kg of the antibody shifted both intravenous and intraperitoneal dose-response curves for (+)-methamphetamine discrimination approximately threefold to the right at 1 or 4 days after administration of the antibody. In pigeons trained to discriminate 3 mg/kg intramuscular (+)-amphetamine from saline, a similar shift of the (+)-methamphetamine dose-response curve to the right also lasted for 4-7 days. However, the antibody did not affect the (+)-amphetamine dose-response curve (pigeons), or the cocaine (rats) dose-response curve. The data show that a low affinity anti-(+)-methamphetamine-specific antibody can produce a specific antagonism of an effect of (+)-methamphetamine that is closely associated with its abuse.

Animals↗

Comparison of behavioural effects of repeated treatment with methamphetamine plus scopolamine and methamphetamine alone on behavioural sensitization and conditioned response.

We investigated how repeated treatments with methamphetamine (4.0 mg kg-1, i.p.) plus scopolamine (0.5 mg kg-1, i.p.) and methamphetamine alone effected behavioural sensitization and conditioned response in rats. Repeated methamphetamine plus scopolamine treatment induced a more progressive and enduring enhancement of focused stereotyped behaviour than repeated methamphetamine treatment. Stereotyped behaviour induced by methamphetamine plus scopolamine was reproduced by challenge injections of methamphetamine plus scopolamine, methamphetamine, and to a lesser extent by scopolamine challenges. The methamphetamine plus scopolamine-sensitized rats were conditioned to a low frequency tone (300 Hz, 100 dB) associated with the drug state. They exhibited a conditioned response to pairings of the tone (conditioned stimulus) and placebo injections. However, they did not respond to the tone alone or the placebo injections alone. The methamphetamine-sensitized rats failed to demonstrate any conditioning; only the repeated methamphetamine plus scopolamine treatment induced sensitization to the drug-associated tone. Pairings of exteroceptive conditioned stimulus-interoceptive unconditioned stimulus associations may provide an important source for conditioning to the tone associated with the drug state. We conclude that behavioural sensitization may operate via a reciprocal balance between the dopaminergic and cholinergic inhibitory systems, in favour of a dopaminergic dominance. Conditioning to the drug-associated tone may be mediated via a reciprocal balance between the two transmitter systems.

Animals↗

Decrease in d-methamphetamine sensitivity in mice due to ethanol: apparent inhibitory and stimulatory effects of ethanol on d-methamphetamine-induced locomotor activity.

The locomotor activity of mice was recorded after administration of d-methamphetamine-HCl (1.5, 2.5, 5.0 and 7.5 mg/kg body weight) and/or ethanol (0.8 and 1.6 g/kg body weight). Mice injected with lower doses of d-methamphetamine (1.5 or 2.5 mg/kg) showed a marked increase in locomotor activity, while in those with higher doses of d-methamphetamine (5.0 or 7.5 mg/kg), locomotor activity was not further enhanced, but slightly decreased. Administration of ethanol inhibited the stimulated locomotor activity caused by low doses of d-methamphetamine (1.5 or 2.5 mg/kg), while the stimulation of motility after higher doses of d-methamphetamine (5.0 or 7.5 mg/kg) was potentiated by administering ethanol. Although apparent inhibition and stimulation of d-methamphetamine-induced locomotor activity of mice due to ethanol was observed, it is suggested that mice administered ethanol showed the decreased sensitivity to d-methamphetamine by plotting total locomotor activity of mice against doses of d-methamphetamine administered. The half maximum effective dose of d-methamphetamine for locomotor activity was increased from 1.5 mg/kg to 3.0 mg/kg by concomitant administration of 1.6 g/kg ethanol.

Animals↗

Drug interaction between methamphetamine and antihistamines: behavioral changes and tissue concentrations of methamphetamine in rats.

Methamphetamine is a psychomotor stimulant, whereas first generation antihistamines cause sedation. Several studies have demonstrated that first generation antihistamines potentiate methamphetamine-induced psychomotor activation and two possible mechanisms have been postulated. One is blockage of the central histaminergic neuron system and the other is inhibition of dopamine reuptake. However, the exact mechanism is still controversial. In this study, we examined in behavioral tests the effects of selected antihistamines on methamphetamine-induced psychomotor activation in rats, and measured plasma and brain tissue concentrations of methamphetamine. We found that some antihistamines significantly potentiate methamphetamine-induced psychomotor activation in rats and that plasma and brain tissue concentrations of methamphetamine in rats treated with methamphetamine in combination with D-chlorpheniramine were markedly higher than those in rats treated with methamphetamine alone. These results suggest that the potentiating effects of antihistamines are due to not only central effects but also the alteration of the pharmacokinetics of methamphetamine.

Animals↗

Monoamine-depleting doses of methamphetamine in enriched and isolated rats: consequences for subsequent methamphetamine-induced hyperactivity and reward.

The current study examined whether environmental enrichment alters the effects of monoamine-depleting doses of methamphetamine on subsequent methamphetamine-induced hyperactivity and conditioned place preference. Rats were raised in either an enriched or isolated condition from 21 to 55 days of age and then were treated with monoamine-depleting doses of methamphetamine (10 mg/kg, four injections at 2 h intervals) or saline. Eight days later, rats were assessed for methamphetamine-induced (0.3 or 1.0 mg/kg) hyperactivity and conditioned place preference. Results indicated that the monoamine-depleting dose regimen produced a similar hyperthermic response in enriched and isolated rats. Enriched and isolated rats also displayed a similar depletion of dopamine in the striatum and serotonin in nucleus accumbens. The monoamine-depleting dose regimen, however, enhanced methamphetamine hyperactivity across repeated conditioning sessions in enriched rats, but not in isolated rats. In contrast to isolated rats, enriched rats failed to display significant conditioned place preference to the low dose of methamphetamine (0.3 mg/kg) following the monoamine-depleting dose regimen, suggesting that the rewarding effect of methamphetamine was blunted by the combined effect of enrichment and methamphetamine treatment. Thus, environmental enrichment may exacerbate the behavioral consequences of monoamine-depleting doses of methamphetamine.

Animals↗

CP-154,526, a CRF type-1 receptor antagonist, attenuates the cue-and methamphetamine-induced reinstatement of extinguished methamphetamine-seeking behavior in rats.

RATIONALE: Previous studies from our laboratory and others have indicated a role for the hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis in the extinction/reinstatement animal model of cocaine relapse OBJECTIVE: This present study was designed to investigate the potential role for the HPA axis in the cue- and methamphetamine-induced reinstatement of extinguished methamphetamine-seeking behavior by determining the effects of ketoconazole and the corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRF) type 1 receptor antagonist, CP-154,526, on these behaviors. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Male Wistar rats were trained to self-administer methamphetamine (0.03 mg/kg/infusion). The delivery of methamphetamine was paired with the presentation of a tone and the illumination of a house light. Once stable responding was reached, the rats were placed into extinction. The effects of pretreatment with ketoconazole (25, 50, or 100 mg/kg, i.p.) or CP-154,526 (20 or 40 mg/kg, i.p.; 3 micro g, i.c.v) on cue-induced reinstatement were then evaluated. RESULTS: Cue-induced reinstatement was not significantly attenuated by pretreatment with peripherally administered CP-154,526 or by pretreatment with ketoconazole. However, centrally administered CP-154,526 (3 micro g, i.c.v.) significantly attenuated cue-induced reinstatement. In a separate group of rats, CP-154,526 (20 mg/kg, i.p.) attenuated methamphetamine-induced reinstatement (0.12 mg/kg priming infusion); whereas a higher dose (40 mg/kg) was necessary to attenuate reinstatement induced by a priming infusion of 0.24 mg/kg/infusion. Ketoconazole (50 mg/kg) did not affect reinstatement induced by a 0.12 mg/kg priming infusion and, therefore, was not tested at the higher methamphetamine priming dose. CONCLUSIONS: These data suggest an important role for CRF in the cue- and methamphetamine-induced reinstatement of extinguished methamphetamine-seeking behavior.

Amphetamine-Related Disorders↗

Resolution of methamphetamine stereoisomers in urine drug testing: urinary excretion of R(-)-methamphetamine following use of nasal inhalers.

The objective of this study is to determine whether R(-)-methamphetamine inhaled from nasal inhalers produces positive methamphetamine results in currently used urine drug screening procedures and to present a rapid method for distinguishing the optical isomers of methamphetamine. Urine from three subjects inhaling from a Vicks Nasal Inhaler every 20 min for six hours tested positive for methamphetamine by EMIT, Toxilab, TDx, and GC/MS. The chiral derivatizing reagent N-trifluoroacetyl-L-prolyl chloride (L-TPC) was used to form methamphetamine diastereomers allowing rapid identification of each stereoisomer of methamphetamine present in the urine samples. Urine samples positive for amphetamines during routine drug screening were determined to consist of a racemic mixture of methamphetamine. The isomeric composition of methamphetamine present in a urine sample indicates the probable source of the drug.

Administration, Inhalation↗

[Relationship between years of methamphetamine use and symptoms of methamphetamine psychosis].

The authors researched the demographic characteristics of 233 patients with methamphetamine-associated disorders, and the relation between years of methamphetamine use and symptoms of methamphetamine psychosis. The results were as follows: There were more male users than females. However there were signs that the female users were gradually increasing. Users tended to be older, but users in their 20's and 30's continued to be predominant. Their school careers were usually limited and most of them had left school at a young age. Relations with a particular social group (e.g. organized gangs) has given most of them a chance to use methamphetamine. The symptoms that were seen with high frequency at the first examination were anxiety, fretfulness, auditory hallucination, insomnia, irritability, psychomotor excitement, delusion of persecution, suspicion, delusion of reference, mistake of circumstance, loss of appetite, affective disorder, hypobulia and personality change. With these symptoms, there is a possibility that five years of methamphetamine use is the turning point in terms of the frequency of symptoms occurrence. It was suggested that affective and perceptual disorders depend on the dose of methamphetamine, but abnormalities in thought subject may be deeply influenced by the patient's "feeling of social wrong". Emotional exhilaration and euphoria decreased as the number of years of methamphetamine use increased. These phenomena may be an indication of tolerance. The symptoms that were seen with high frequency at the last examination were hypobulia, affective disorder, personality change, insomnia, anxiety and fretfulness. The symptoms that were highly resistant to treatment were hypobulia, affective disorder, personality change, general malaise, hypochondriasis, insomnia, anxiety and fretfulness. It was suggested that five years of methamphetamine use may be a turning point in the residual rate of symptoms at the last examination after treatment, and also the resistance rate to treatment. Hypobulia and personality change became more evident during treatment.

Adolescent↗